by C. Fennessy
When the soldiers arrived, the red-headed woman was still screaming that she was being robbed. The soldiers pointed their guns at Jamie and Joshua and ordered them to drop the musket and put their hands up.
One of the soldiers took the purse from Jamie and handed it to the red-headed woman, who thanked them profusely.
Jamie and Josh looked at one another in astonishment while the officers turned to them and said, “Come along with us, boys. You’re under arrest.”
“But she’s-“ Joshua began, but Jamie shouted.
“Be quiet, Josh!”
There was nothing either of them could tell the British soldiers, so they stood in silence as one of them took Joshua’s musket and Jamie’s knife. Both boys were forced to walk with rifles aimed at their backs.
As they passed the wagon, Jamie called out, “Sarah!”
The soldiers stopped and looked up at her.
“Do you know these two boys, Miss?”
Her eyes widened and she replied indignantly, “I should hope not!”
The soldier nodded and gave Jamie a shove.
“Keep marching!”
Jamie moved on, but turned to Sarah with a piercing look of betrayal.
‘Serves them right,’ she thought, still angry at the way they had treated her. But she knew she had no choice. If she had admitted knowing them, then she too would have been arrested for her part in the crime. Rather than risk being locked up in a jail, she would try to help Jamie and Joshua later. Right now she had to stop that letter from getting to Boston!
Table of Contents
Chapter 26: Sarah to the Rescue
Sarah waited until the red-headed woman and her son disappeared inside the house on Dock Street. Hopping down from the wagon, she crossed the road to keep an eye on the place. She pretended to look in the window of a small dress shop diagonally across the street and watched the house in the window’s reflection. Meanwhile, a million thoughts ran through her head. What would she do once they came out?
Soon, the red-headed woman and her son came out of the house, got back into the coach, and drove away.
Sarah crossed the street. She mustered all of her courage, and knocked upon the door. It opened and a man with a thick, bushy side whiskers, iron gray hair, and red cheeks stared curiously at her.
“Yes?”
“Is Captain Wallace at home? It is very important that I speak with him.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Sarah Harper and I’m from Roxbury.”
The gentleman glanced left and right to make sure no one was watching, and then said, “Come inside.”
He closed the door and invited her into the parlor. They both sat down.
“I am Mr. Wainwood. The Captain is away on business. Perhaps you’d better tell me what this is all about.”
“I will, but before I speak, I must ask you, sir….whose side are you on, the King’s or the Colonists’?”
He stroked his chin, appraising her.
“I am not a political man.”
“Then you do not want to see the Americans win their independence,” Sarah concluded.
“I didn’t say that,” he replied, “In fact, I have many friends in the Rhode Island Regiment.”
Sarah’s eyes grew intense as she said, “The woman who was just here now. Did she give you a letter?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Is it addressed to someone in Boston? Major Cane?
“Yes, but I will not tell you anything more until you tell me what this is all about,” he insisted.
She sighed, wondering if the man could be trusted. If he was on the side of the British, then she might find herself arrested. If he wasn’t, then she still had a chance of stopping the letter. She knew it was a risk she had to take.
“I came from Cambridge with two friends, following that woman and her son. We have been watching them for some time and we know that they are informers…spies for the British.”
The man’s eyebrows danced upon his forehead.
“Spies?”
“Yes. And I know what you’re thinking…that I don’t know what I’m talking about. But my father’s a member of the Sons of Liberty. He fought in the battle at Breed’s Hill,” she replied, “He was with Dr. Warren’s regiment.”
Mr. Wainwood seemed surprised at the amount of information she knew. He thought that either this young lady was telling the truth, or she herself was a British spy posing as an American one.
“If you’re telling the truth, then you won’t mind if I check out your story with a few of my friends in Cambridge.”
“Of course not!” she replied immediately, “My father is Jonathan Harper of Roxbury. Ask any of the other Sons of Liberty; they know him.”
Mt. Wainwood nodded in satisfaction, and continued, “Now, about this letter-“
“You mustn’t let that letter go on to Boston! I beg of you! The man who wrote it is a traitor! It would give the British every bit of information they need to crush us!”
Mr. Wainwood looked uncertain. His hand went to his jacket pocket where the letter was hidden. He fingered it, thinking about what to do.
“I suppose I could keep it until I find out whether your story is true or not. What is your name again?”
“Sarah. Sarah Harper from Roxbury. Thank you, Mr. Wainwood, for listening to me. You’ll find that I am telling you the truth.”
He nodded, “Come back this evening, around seven. I shall then let you know what will be done with the letter.”
Sarah smiled with relief, “Thank you, Mr. Wainwood!”
She left the house and went across the street to a shop where the shopkeeper gave her directions to the jail.
The sergeant at the jail told her Jamie and Joshua would be brought before the court magistrate at nine o’clock the following morning.
Sarah left, thinking about what she must do. She drove down Main Street, looking for an inn.
She found one on the next corner called The Seaport Inn, and parked the wagon across the street, watching to see what types of people came and went. When she saw that most of them looked well-dressed and respectable, she went inside. The innkeeper was dressed in fine clothes and greeted her politely.
“May I help you, Miss?”
“Yes, sir,” Sarah replied, “My mother and I have just arrived from Cambridge and we need a place to stay. She’s in the shop across the street and has sent me here to see if you have any rooms for the night.”
The gentleman smiled, “Yes, we do. It costs one and six pence.”
Sarah counted the money into his hand and he gave her a key.
“Your room is on the second floor, number twelve.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Shall I send someone out to help you with your bags?”
“No, that won’t be necessary yet. We’re going to do some shopping first. Perhaps when we return.”
“Very good, Miss,” he nodded and smiled as she left.
Sarah left the inn and strolled around Main Street. Redcoats patrolled the streets of Newport much the same as in Boston. She found a grocer’s, bought some things to eat and drink, and packed them into her basket. A stone wall overlooking the harbor became her seat while she ate and thought about what she could do to help Jamie and Joshua.
Promptly at seven, Sarah returned to Mr. Wainwood’s house, and he invited her inside. Two other gentlemen were with him.
“This is Mr. Maxwell, and this is Mr. Ward. They have asked to meet you and to hear more about this letter.”
They each shook her hand, and everyone was seated in the parlor. Mr. Ward was an older man, with thinning hair, and his friend Mr. Maxwell was short and stout. They both smiled kindly at her. Mr. Ward spoke.
“Now, Miss Harper, please tell us how you came to know about the letter, and who wrote it.”
She took a deep breath and told him the whole story of Dr. Church.
When she finished, the two men looked a
t each other, and Mr. Ward asked, “Do you have any proof of this?”
She shook her head and sighed, “No. That’s why we’ve been following the red-headed woman and her son, to get the proof. They left Dr. Church’s house in Cambridge this morning-“
“Did you say Dr. Church? Dr. Benjamin Church?” asked Mr. Maxwell.
“Yes. Do you know him?” asked Sarah.
“I have heard a great deal about him.”
Sarah leaned forward and spoke passionately.
“Then you know how hard it is for anyone to believe that he is, in fact, a traitor!”
The three men looked astonished, exchanging incredulous looks.
“It’s true! That letter is the proof!” she insisted, “It’s from Dr. Church, and it’s probably written in a secret code, with odd-looking symbols. I know this because I have another letter that we were able to take from the same woman before she could deliver it to General Gage in Boston.”
“General Gage?” repeated Mr. Wainwood, “The commander of the British Army?”
“Yes! That’s who Dr. Church has been spying for! One of my friends is General Gage’s groom, and both he and my other friend, Jamie, have seen the red-headed woman deliver messages to the General.”
“Who is this red-headed woman?” asked Mr. Ward.
“We don’t know her name, but she lives with Dr. Church in Cambridge. The young man with her is her son.”
The three men exchanged curious looks again, as if nonplussed.
Mr. Ward said, “It seems that the only way we can believe anything that you’ve told us tonight is to examine the letter.”
Mr. Wainwood’s eyes went wide, “You mean, open it? Read it?”
“Yes, exactly,” replied Mr. Ward.
“Well, I don’t know…” Wainwood mumbled, “It’s not our letter!”
“Please, sir!” Sarah pleaded, “We must look at it! If it is just a normal letter, we can seal it up again and send it on to Boston. But if it looks unusual in any way, we must not let it go on!”
After a short consideration, the men all agreed, and Mr. Maxwell took out the letter and opened it. His eyes widened in surprise as it looked up at Sarah.
“Why, it’s just as you have said! It’s all written in funny-looking symbols!”
Everyone stared at the letter, their mouths gaping.
“I can hardly believe it!” cried Mr. Maxwell, “A letter in secret code! To whom is it addressed?”
Mr. Wainwood read the address on the front, “To a Major Cane in Boston.”
“He’s one of Gage’s men!” Sarah exclaimed, “I’ve heard Jamie talk about him!”
“Who are these two friends of yours, and why aren’t they here?” asked Mr. Ward.
Sarah explained what had happened when they tried to take the letter from the red-headed woman.
“And so now they’re under arrest at the jail,” she concluded.
Mr. Ward shook his head, “That is most unfortunate. After all, they were not intending to rob her purse, just stop the letter. Perhaps I can speak to the magistrate. He is an acquaintance of mine. I’ll try to have your friends released.”
Sarah clutched his hands, crying, “Oh, sir! If you only would! I’d be most grateful!”
He nodded, “I shall try my best.”
“They are to be brought before the magistrate at nine o’clock in the morning.”
“Then I'll meet you there at a quarter to nine. In the meantime, I would like to show this letter to General Nathanael Greene, to ask him what he thinks should be done with it,” Mr. Wainwood concluded.
“I agree,” Mr. Ward nodded, “I am most anxious to see this traitor be brought to justice!"
Table of Contents
Chapter 27: Caught in the Act
Sarah was awake at dawn, and after a quick breakfast, she left the inn and drove back to the jail. The magistrate’s court room was on the main floor, above the jail. She waited outside, and Mr. Ward arrived at quarter to nine.
“I shall speak to the magistrate in his chambers before the prisoners are brought up to the court. Please give me your friends’ names.”
He wrote them on a slip of paper, and then he told her to wait here.
A crowd of people filed into the courtroom to watch the proceedings. One door led to the courtroom, and another further down the hall led to the magistrate’s chambers.
She waited in the hallway, pacing back and forth nervously. She worried about what would happen to Jamie and Joshua if Mr. Ward couldn’t convince the magistrate to let them go. Would they be sent to prison? For how long?
All night she had tossed and turned, thinking about the horrid words she had said to Jamie yesterday, and she only hoped she would get a chance to tell him how sorry she was. But if he and Josh were convicted, would she ever see him again?
She began biting her fingernails, a nervous habit that she rarely did unless she was very worried. She closed her eyes and prayed that her friends would be set free.
After what seemed an eternity, Mr. Ward came out of the magistrate’s chambers and said, “Let’s go outside and talk.”
Once outside he told her, “I was able to secure their freedom at no little cost. I had to bribe the magistrate.”
“Oh! Thank you!” she cried and without thinking, hugged him and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“On, my! That’s quite all right, Miss Harper,” he blushed, “Ah, here come your two friends now.”
She turned and saw Jamie and Joshua hurrying down the steps of the court house. They ran to each other and she hugged Jamie first, and then Joshua.
“Sarah! Did you get us out?” cried Joshua.
“No, it was Mr. Ward! Let me introduce you!”
She made the introductions and explained what Mr. Ward had done to get their release.
“I can pay you back, sir,” Jamie said, “We have some money-“
Mr. Ward held up a hand in protest.
“That’s not necessary, although I thank you for the offer. What you have uncovered may be the greatest gift you could give me. This morning on my way here, I took the letter to my friend, General Greene. He was most shocked when I told him the story. He is going to take the letter to General Washington today and to ask his advice on the matter.”
“We can’t thank you enough, sir!” Jamie cried, shaking Mr. Ward’s hand.
“I am glad to do whatever I can to help our cause,” he replied.
Sarah sighed with satisfaction and asked, “What will happen to Dr. Church?”
Mr. Ward took a deep breath and frowned in concentration, “Oh, I imagine that General Washington will want a word with him. Dr. Church is in Cambridge, you say?”
“Yes. Probably at Hastings House,” replied Sarah.
Mr. Ward nodded, “I shall inform General Greene. And how may we contact you in case we need to speak to you tomorrow?”
“We’ll be at our farm in Roxbury,” she answered.
Mr. Ward held out his hand and shook hands with them, saying, “I don’t know if we shall meet again. But I will never forget the extraordinary thing that you three young people have done. If Dr. Church is in fact the writer of this letter, then you three are indeed heroes for stopping it.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jamie smiled as they also shook hands, and Mr. Ward bid them good bye.
“Whew!” Josh exclaimed, “I hope I never get put into jail again! That place is horrible!”
Jamie picked up the reins, “It certainly is! And now that I don’t have to smell that stinking place, my stomach is dying for food. Let’s find a place to eat before we leave town.”
“Amen to that!” Joshua grinned and Sarah laughed in agreement.
After delivering Josh back to his camp, Jamie and Sarah drove back to Roxbury. Although they were both exhausted from not having slept much the night before, they took care of the animals, and Jamie made a fire while Sarah prepared supper. They hadn’t spoken much on the way back from Newport, since J
oshua had done most of the talking. But Jamie felt he needed to clear the air between them. He cleared his throat and said casually,
“By the way, I don’t remember if I thanked you for getting me and Josh out of jail.”
“That’s okay. I owed you one,” Sarah said, then went on cautiously, “I’ve wanted to tell you something. It’s about what I said yesterday on the way to Newport,” she paused, “I’m really sorry. I never meant to say that, and I don’t know why I did. It was so incredibly stupid of me. Can you forgive me?”
He looked at her, wondering what to say. It was true that he hated her comment, but he shrugged his shoulders and gave a tired smile.
“I guess so, since you got me out of jail.”
“Really it was Mr. Ward who got you out by bribing the magistrate.”
“But you convinced him to do it somehow,” Jamie said, “And you stopped the letter from going to Boston. I guess I owe you an apology too, for acting like I was the only one who could do that.”
Her heart flooded with gratitude. She shrugged, not knowing what to say without sounding smug.
“Thanks,” she smiled, feeling glad that their friendship had survived.
Later that day, they were out in barn feeding the animals when a rider came up the lane. Jamie asked her, “Do you know who that is?”
She stared at the rider and shook her head, wiping her hands on an old apron.
“No, I don’t.”
The rider dismounted and approached the fence.
“Are you Sarah Harper?” he called.
“Yes, I am. Who are you?”
“I’m Lieutenant Colonel George Baylor. General Washington sent me to ask you if you could help us find the woman who delivered that letter to Mr. Wainwood in Newport.”
Sarah nodded to the officer, “Of course. We know where she lives. We’ll get cleaned up and take you there.”
Jamie and Sarah rode their horse behind the Colonel. When they reached Hastings House, Paul Revere was riding his horse towards them, waving.
“Jamie! Hold on!” Revere shouted, galloping to a sliding stop at their wagon.
Revere looked curiously at Baylor and Jamie introduced them.
“I’ve heard much about you, sir,” Baylor said with admiration.
“Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see,” Paul quipped with a grin. He turned to Jamie. “I have a letter for you. It came this morning.”